I know, fall baseball was rough on me with no weekends basically! That was finished two weekends ago, so now time is freeing up. Homecoming was great, as good as united dances get, anyway, what with a bunch of hillbillies all dressed up and trying to dance to rap and hip hop...
It's been a while. I'm not nearly as busy as i was last blog, I just forgot...for a little over 3 weeks...which is embarrassing. Anyway, as I just said, I'm a lot less busy, considering I now remember how having weekends feels like. The weekend after baseball was over, I caught up completely on homework (I didn't turn in anything late, I just missed a lot of the reading) and relaxed a little. During that week, I found time to work out more in preparation for January and February's Indoor Track Season while still doing work in my Classes. It's been pretty basic the last few weeks, my routine has been established. I feel like I know what the Profs consistently expect of me, something every student eventually learns from his teachers. You know, the feeling that when you proofread your paper you can guess pretty accurately what you'll get on it. So I got that goin' for me. Anyway, two weeks ago I skipped the Learning Community for an Amish Mill Festival in Carroll County, where my grandparents live. It was the first one I skipped, which is, to me, legal; especially considering most kids have only gone to one of the Friday Funday's. Two days ago at our last Learning Comm., we got Interim Grades. I have two A's and a B, which is what I expected. We also are beginning scheduling for the Spring Semester, and I made an appointment with Kristin Toothman for next Monday to see if I can take some courses in the P.T.A. program in East Liverpool, which will be my major, anyway. That way, I'll be getting a head start not only on my Frosh year of college, but also a jump start on my major.
All for now, Brock
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Busy, Busy, Busy
Getting time to stay in shape is almost obsolete for this time of the year. You need to be fit just to take on so much running around. But hey, I asked for it. This last week entailed all of the following things- mowing three yards, line judging volleyball 2 separate days, announcing for the Junior High football teams, lifting weights, applying for scholarships, running errands for parents, fitting in time to replace my stereo, completely lost my weekends to baseball doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, basketball open gym, about 45 minutes per night of homework, facilitating a Principals Advisory Council meeting, tearing down for Homecoming, getting groceries for my home-bound grandfather, and finding time to stuff myself with food. (Breath) I’m not blaming S2S program schedule, though. Actually I have more time to do things because I get out of school at around 1:40.
Apart from my head spinning, I’ve met a lot of people through the program. They are all obviously very smart and ambitious. That is a huge difference from High School right there- these people have ambition, and it’s contagious. In fact, I may be one of the least mature people here, which is a 180 from United.
My cousin, Bethany, sits beside me in Human Biology class. She has always gone to Salem, so it’s still very surreal to be in the same classes as her and all of her friends. The professors I have are so different from High School as well. I’m not about to bash my past teachers, because I had some great role models and learned a lot from them, but my ‘profs’ are in another league. They teach without demanding authority, they’re not caught up in being in complete control, they just are. They all are easy to listen to, and are exceptionally reasonable. My success so far can be mostly attributed to them. I got an ‘A’ on my HumanBio test, and I’ve actually retained what I’ve learned.
That’s my summation for month one of Seniors to Sophomores: exactly what I hoped for so far. I’m not just being lectured, I’m being taught.
Apart from my head spinning, I’ve met a lot of people through the program. They are all obviously very smart and ambitious. That is a huge difference from High School right there- these people have ambition, and it’s contagious. In fact, I may be one of the least mature people here, which is a 180 from United.
My cousin, Bethany, sits beside me in Human Biology class. She has always gone to Salem, so it’s still very surreal to be in the same classes as her and all of her friends. The professors I have are so different from High School as well. I’m not about to bash my past teachers, because I had some great role models and learned a lot from them, but my ‘profs’ are in another league. They teach without demanding authority, they’re not caught up in being in complete control, they just are. They all are easy to listen to, and are exceptionally reasonable. My success so far can be mostly attributed to them. I got an ‘A’ on my HumanBio test, and I’ve actually retained what I’ve learned.
That’s my summation for month one of Seniors to Sophomores: exactly what I hoped for so far. I’m not just being lectured, I’m being taught.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Day 1
It’s been quite a while since my first post, but now things have unfortunately been set in motion that can not be undone. The first day of school was both rude as an ice-cold shower, and as liberating as riding a dirt bike.
I slept in today as my first and only kent class for the day began at 9:40. I first drove over to the Salem Campus’ bookstore to get my books, free, numerous, and incidentally, grouped together. I stood for 10 minutes looking dumb-founded all over the packed bookstore for my required materials until an angel of a woman asked if I needed assistance. I was out of there within the minute. I got to the S2S campus in Salem, the old Junior High, and originally the Salem High School, at 9:30. I went in the right entrance and upstairs, and quickly got lost. Luckily, everyone else was too. I ended up in the office with four other people in my Theater class who were confuzzled as much as me. Turns out, there was a typo on our sheets for room number. With that fixed we proceeded to the computer room to activate our accounts, and went to room 211 where we already had a substitute “prof” named Professor Dees. Cool man. He answered questions and quickly got us out of there. Two friends of mine and I walked outside in a fugue-like state, dazed that we had both three hours extra free time and three hours extra homework than high school.
A sweet thing I learned today was that my 87-year-old Grandfather, Howard Gray, attended High School in the same building I now stomp through. Just a fun fact. Anyway, even though it was surprising to get ample homework on the first day of school from a Professor that wasn’t even there, I completely trust the system already. There will be no baby-coddling, like in high school, which is almost as unsettling as it is reassuring.
I slept in today as my first and only kent class for the day began at 9:40. I first drove over to the Salem Campus’ bookstore to get my books, free, numerous, and incidentally, grouped together. I stood for 10 minutes looking dumb-founded all over the packed bookstore for my required materials until an angel of a woman asked if I needed assistance. I was out of there within the minute. I got to the S2S campus in Salem, the old Junior High, and originally the Salem High School, at 9:30. I went in the right entrance and upstairs, and quickly got lost. Luckily, everyone else was too. I ended up in the office with four other people in my Theater class who were confuzzled as much as me. Turns out, there was a typo on our sheets for room number. With that fixed we proceeded to the computer room to activate our accounts, and went to room 211 where we already had a substitute “prof” named Professor Dees. Cool man. He answered questions and quickly got us out of there. Two friends of mine and I walked outside in a fugue-like state, dazed that we had both three hours extra free time and three hours extra homework than high school.
A sweet thing I learned today was that my 87-year-old Grandfather, Howard Gray, attended High School in the same building I now stomp through. Just a fun fact. Anyway, even though it was surprising to get ample homework on the first day of school from a Professor that wasn’t even there, I completely trust the system already. There will be no baby-coddling, like in high school, which is almost as unsettling as it is reassuring.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
COMPASS Test for STAR
The odd thing to begin with, yet appropriate enough in my opinion, is to recognize that even though I'm going to be expressing my ever-humble opinion, experiences, and knowledge gathered through this upcoming year as a Kent State Salem branch Senior to Sophomore, I have yet to figure out what COMPASS and STAR stand for. No clue. But I now know exactly what its like to take it in it's entirety. It's not a horrible experience, and that is coming from a guy that would rather go ninja-hunting than sit another ACT.
It started out innocently enough, me walking into Kent Salem branch's main doors, driver's license in one hand, thermos of java in the other. I registered for the test, and sat down in an open area in the front of the building that looks similar to a cafeteria, yet nowhere is there food served. And so the atrocious half-hour wait began. Mind you, I came in at exactly 9:00, the precise time everyone was to be there, registered, and ready to test; and we were. Apparently the ladies administering the test were waiting on one last person, who knows now, it's lost in time.
Finally, though, we went to the room for testing.
As it turned out, the test went much better than I expected; it was completely computerized, straightforward, and fairly short. I was out in roughly an hour and a half. Not only this, but the ladies giving the test were completely helpful and nice. It was the least stress I had over a test in quite a while, as a result. After I finished, I went down to Mrs. Toothman's office after a short wait, and was given my course options from my test scores. Once I had finished, schedule in hand, I went and got the holy grail of the frosh experience: the College I.D. I had a name. And a big grin in my photo.
The rest is history, as they say, until classes begin. In summary, my first Kent experience was great, and I walked out in confidence of what I can do this coming year. I just would have preferred leaving that half hour earlier.
Just a note about me, my name is Brock Horstman, and I go to United Local, where I will be a senior this upcoming year. I just turned eighteen, and am very active in everything affiliated with high school. I have ran V. Track, played V. Baseball, was a Morning Announcer at school, a member of Student Council, Ruriteens, NHS, Principal's Advisory Council, Class Officer, Eagle Crazy, Ski-Clubber, etc., etc. I know this is not a resume, I simply want to show that I have a lot in my life than just S2S. Now including this here blog, I may add. I think that I was a perfect candidate for the S2S program because, as a Junior, I lost interest in my classes because I wasn't challenged, was limited by the system (no A.P. classes), was DONE with all the high school popularity contests, am ready for something less monotonous, and in need of all the financial savings I can find. I think that's all the needy info on me, and I hope this blog on my successes and failures will help those of you who are unsure whether to use this program in the future.
It started out innocently enough, me walking into Kent Salem branch's main doors, driver's license in one hand, thermos of java in the other. I registered for the test, and sat down in an open area in the front of the building that looks similar to a cafeteria, yet nowhere is there food served. And so the atrocious half-hour wait began. Mind you, I came in at exactly 9:00, the precise time everyone was to be there, registered, and ready to test; and we were. Apparently the ladies administering the test were waiting on one last person, who knows now, it's lost in time.
Finally, though, we went to the room for testing.
As it turned out, the test went much better than I expected; it was completely computerized, straightforward, and fairly short. I was out in roughly an hour and a half. Not only this, but the ladies giving the test were completely helpful and nice. It was the least stress I had over a test in quite a while, as a result. After I finished, I went down to Mrs. Toothman's office after a short wait, and was given my course options from my test scores. Once I had finished, schedule in hand, I went and got the holy grail of the frosh experience: the College I.D. I had a name. And a big grin in my photo.
The rest is history, as they say, until classes begin. In summary, my first Kent experience was great, and I walked out in confidence of what I can do this coming year. I just would have preferred leaving that half hour earlier.
Just a note about me, my name is Brock Horstman, and I go to United Local, where I will be a senior this upcoming year. I just turned eighteen, and am very active in everything affiliated with high school. I have ran V. Track, played V. Baseball, was a Morning Announcer at school, a member of Student Council, Ruriteens, NHS, Principal's Advisory Council, Class Officer, Eagle Crazy, Ski-Clubber, etc., etc. I know this is not a resume, I simply want to show that I have a lot in my life than just S2S. Now including this here blog, I may add. I think that I was a perfect candidate for the S2S program because, as a Junior, I lost interest in my classes because I wasn't challenged, was limited by the system (no A.P. classes), was DONE with all the high school popularity contests, am ready for something less monotonous, and in need of all the financial savings I can find. I think that's all the needy info on me, and I hope this blog on my successes and failures will help those of you who are unsure whether to use this program in the future.
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